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Localstars, the geo-targeted online video advertising startup, has appointed a new managing director: Chris Bunyan, the former digital director at Trinity Mirror’s regional media division. Prior to that he was director of portal management at cable broadcaster Virgin Media. Bunyan will be replacing founder and former MD, George Dann, who now moves up to become CEO.

Localstars attempts to lower the barriers to entry for both publishers and brands wanting to utlilise video advertising online. It offers an online portal that publishers can use to sell and manage video ad campaigns on behalf of advertisers, letting them create a 15 second video ad for each customer by customising the video content – adding contact information, images and logos etc. – from the Localstars library. From there on in, ads can be geo-targeted via a map-based interface.

The company also offers a range of self-serve products, a rich media display ad-builder, automated website building services, along with shooting bespoke video ads via a network of over 100 filmmakers.

To date, its video ad technology has been used to create 10,000 online video ads, says Localstars, and generated around £5m of new revenues for its media partners. In terms of where those video ads get placed, the company boasts an video advertising syndication network consisting of 2,000 local media and directory publisher sites.